Cheap Trick

Cheap Trick formed in the mid-'70s in Illinois with a bag of power-pop tricks cribbed from bands like the Beatles and Badfinger. But guitarist Rick Nielsen was also a fan and student of the era's guitar heroes, so the power in Cheap Trick's power-pop was just as prevalent as the pop. After three albums slowly expanded their increasing fan base, a fluke live album, 'Cheap Trick at Budokan,' originally released only in Japan, became a Top 5 hit in the U.S. They scored only one more Top 10 album since that 1979 classic ('Dream Police,' also released in 1979 and actually all set to hit shelves when it was delayed to give 'Budokan' time to grow) but have remained a popular live act.